International day to end impunity for crimes against journalists

Today is the sixth anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. We, at The Coalition For Women In Journalism, raise our voice for women journalists who have been subjected to physical and psychological violence and threats.

We condemn all attacks on women journalists and urge governments around the world to punish attackers and ensure justice for the victims. On this day, we remember our colleagues who have lost their lives while performing their duties as journalists.

CFWIJ has closely monitored several types of threats against journalists, including murders. Our data shows that India, United States, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan were the five worst countries for women journalists, during the first half of 2019.

UNESCO’s latest report states that a total of 43 journalists have been killed in 2019 so far. CFWIJ’s data shows that five women journalists were among those murdered. Lyra McKee, a journalist from Northern Ireland, was killed in crossfire by the New IRA on April 19; Mina Mangal, an Afghan journalist turned and political advisor, was murdered after being shot on May 11; Norma Sarabia of Mexico was shot multiple times on June 11, and died on the spot; Santi Carvajal, a transgender journalist based in Honduras, was killed as a result of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community on July 6; and Somali journalist Hodan Nalayeh was killed in a terror attack on July 19. None of their murderers have been punished till date. We demand that this impunity end, and the culprits be brought to justice.

Imprisonment of women journalists is a way to silence press freedom. In August, Iran overtook Turkey to become the world’s biggest jailer of women journalists. According to our data, a total of 12 women journalists were behind bars in the Islamic Republic, the number has now come down to nine after three journalists were released in October this year. Both Turkey and Iran are tied with nine women journalists behind bars.

Most women journalists in Iran were arrested while reporting about human rights issues and protests. Many of our colleagues are still languishing in prisons across the country for their journalistic work. Journalists like Asal Muhammedi, Nooshin Jafari, Hengameh Shahidi, Farangis Mazloom, Narges Mohammedi, Avisha Jalaleddin, Shima Entesari and Sepideh Moradi are presently locked in Iranian jails.Turkey, which was also deemed the biggest jailer of women journalists in March this year, has several women journalists imprisoned in its jails.

Turkey, which was also deemed the biggest jailer of women journalists in March this year, has several women journalists imprisoned in its jails. According to our data, Aslı Ceren Aslan, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak, Ayşenur Parıldak, Burçin Dokgöz, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Hatice Duman, Gurbet Çakar, Kamuran Sunbat, Kibriye Evren are presently behind bars in Turkey. Two female journalists, Pınar Gayıp and Semiha Şahin have been released but are currently living under house arrest. Most of those imprisoned have been charged for their links with a terrorist organization. The Coalition would urge the Turkish authorities to release our colleagues and ensure the provision of press freedom in the country.

There is also a renewed crackdown on Kurdish journalists, or those who have taken a pro-Kurdish stance. This comes at a time when Turkish forces are advancing into Syria. On October 19, journalist Nurcan Baysal’s house, located in Diyarbakir, was raided by 30–40 policemen following her critical social media posts.

On October 28, another journalist, Nurcan Kaya, was detained at the airport because of her tweet against Turkey’s operation in Syria. After her release, a travel ban was imposed on her. We strongly condemn the Turkish authorities’ activities to target journalists for merely sharing their opinion and for attempting to prevent them from doing their job.

We believe that journalists require a safe environment for the very important work that they do. Threats hinder their ability to produce quality journalism, where some censor themselves, and others quit the profession altogether because of the level of danger they face.

Online harassment is quickly becoming a way to silence journalists through trolling, harassment and threats using the internet. Women journalists often happen to be at the receiving end of such abuse, making it difficult for them to carry on with their journalism.

Data collected by CFWIJ shows that during the first half of the year, 20% of all cases of threats against women journalists were related to online harassment. Keeping in mind the cases documented by us in the first half of this year, women journalists remain vulnerable to online abuse and harassment, and the attacks will only continue to increase if social media platforms do not intervene to ensure protective measures.In Pakistan and India, women journalists are subjected to immense harassment and abuse online. their job.

Cases we have documented suggest that in Pakistan, several attacks stem from the state apparatus, which targets journalists based on their coverage of certain politicians. Women journalists have to brave the storm of character assassinations, abuse, rape and death threats.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, The Coalition suggests a global collaboration among advocates of press freedom to create safer working conditions for women journalists. The need to counter violence and crimes against journalists must be taken into consideration on an emergency basis. No journalist, particularly a woman journalist, deserves to be subjected to any form of violence and harassment simply for doing.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ.

Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org